7 replies to this topic

[Scolwell06]

Hello
I'm Stephen, I'm a nurse here in a critical care unit.
The real reason I'm here is my grandson. He is nearly 8 and has become enthralled by ants. He watches you tube videos and reads about them daily. I did get him one of those little gel ant habitats and a tube of ants but of course they didn't last long. All summer he was badgering me to help him find a queen. In his mind we can just go out and dig up a colony.
I wouldn't mind purchasing a colony or whatever is necessary to get started. I'm a bit confused by the information I find on the web, seems though that it's illegal to ship ants, or at least queen, across state lines.
He looked all year for a queen. He did manage to corner a velvet ant but thankfully he didn't grab it.
I made a habitat for him of just an aquarium with sandy soil and he caught numerous ants he would excitedly tell me what species he thought they were and try to care for them but without a colony they were doomed I suppose. This year he asked Santa for an ant colony. Being in the north pole that may be hard for him to get I've told him. At any rate, I'm glad to have found this forum and hope that I can become educated enough to help him get a colony going. If anyone knows somewhere that I might purchase the stuff to get started please let me know. I fear Santa is going to let him down this year.

[Antkeeper01]

Hello
I'm Stephen, I'm a nurse here in a critical care unit.
The real reason I'm here is my grandson. He is nearly 8 and has become enthralled by ants. He watches you tube videos and reads about them daily. I did get him one of those little gel ant habitats and a tube of ants but of course they didn't last long. All summer he was badgering me to help him find a queen. In his mind we can just go out and dig up a colony.
I wouldn't mind purchasing a colony or whatever is necessary to get started. I'm a bit confused by the information I find on the web, seems though that it's illegal to ship ants, or at least queen, across state lines.
He looked all year for a queen. He did manage to corner a velvet ant but thankfully he didn't grab it.
I made a habitat for him of just an aquarium with sandy soil and he caught numerous ants he would excitedly tell me what species he thought they were and try to care for them but without a colony they were doomed I suppose. This year he asked Santa for an ant colony. Being in the north pole that may be hard for him to get I've told him. At any rate, I'm glad to have found this forum and hope that I can become educated enough to help him get a colony going. If anyone knows somewhere that I might purchase the stuff to get started please let me know. I fear Santa is going to let him down this year.

First of all you need to have your location in your profile in order to buy from people on this forum and heres a good reputable seller in tennessee https://www.formicul...eens-available/

and you can also buy this(Pogonomyrmex occidentalis is the only species legal to ship across state lines without a permit):  https://tarheelants....ony-1-5-workers

Welcome to the forum!

Edited by Antkeeper01, December 16 2021 - 1:39 PM.

[ANTdrew]

You should definitely contact a fellow on here named TennesseeAnts. He can sell you a colony and help you get started.

[Kaelwizard]

Welcome! Camponotus is probably among the best genera for a new keeper, as they are large (makes them easier to keep track of) and generally hardy. I know Tar Heel Ants has some Camponotus discolor and Formica subsericea (also large and hardy, but probably a lot more skittish than a Camponotus species) in stock and available to ship to Tennessee. I would do as ANTdrew has suggested and contact TennesseeAnts here on the forum, as Tar Heel Ants is really expensive and he might have something cheaper.

 

 

Hello
I'm Stephen, I'm a nurse here in a critical care unit.
The real reason I'm here is my grandson. He is nearly 8 and has become enthralled by ants. He watches you tube videos and reads about them daily. I did get him one of those little gel ant habitats and a tube of ants but of course they didn't last long. All summer he was badgering me to help him find a queen. In his mind we can just go out and dig up a colony.
I wouldn't mind purchasing a colony or whatever is necessary to get started. I'm a bit confused by the information I find on the web, seems though that it's illegal to ship ants, or at least queen, across state lines.
He looked all year for a queen. He did manage to corner a velvet ant but thankfully he didn't grab it.
I made a habitat for him of just an aquarium with sandy soil and he caught numerous ants he would excitedly tell me what species he thought they were and try to care for them but without a colony they were doomed I suppose. This year he asked Santa for an ant colony. Being in the north pole that may be hard for him to get I've told him. At any rate, I'm glad to have found this forum and hope that I can become educated enough to help him get a colony going. If anyone knows somewhere that I might purchase the stuff to get started please let me know. I fear Santa is going to let him down this year.

First of all you need to have your location in your profile in order to buy from people on this forum and heres a good reputable seller in tennessee https://www.formicul...eens-available/

and you can also buy this(Pogonomyrmex occidentalis is the only species legal to ship across state lines without a permit):  https://tarheelants....ony-1-5-workers

Welcome to the forum!

 

Actually, THA has permits to sell other species over state lines. I would not recommend P. occidentalis for a young child. They may not be able to climb, but they have a very painful and potentially dangerous sting.

[Scolwell06]

Thanks for the welcome and replies. I will be checking with Tennessee Ants for sure.

[Scolwell06]

How does one update a profile?

[Kaelwizard]

I’m pretty sure you can only do it from a computer, but there should be an edit profile button and a section to add your location somewhere on that page.

[antsriondel]

welcome!!!!!